The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Boulogne.

"On the 24th of February last, being St. Matthew, the clerk of a little village called Ande Seritte, between Calais and Boulogne, being obliged to attend divine service, left his wife at home, who expected to be brought to bed every hour, and a little boy about seven year old. The man had no sooner left his house, than a woman, who was a neighbour, came to visit his wife. After the first salutation was over, the visitor told her, that when she was made acquainted with the reason of her visit, she imagined it would not be very agreeable to her. Alarmed at this, the good woman asked her what it was she wanted? She replied her money, or her life. Upon which the poor creature, unable to defend herself, gave her the keys of her money, which she took; but not being satisfied with her booty, she demanded to go into the cellar, as she knew there was a quantity of pickled pork, which she insisted upon having. When she was in the cellar, the good woman thought it a fit opportunity to secure her. Accordingly she locked her in the cellar, and immediately dispatched the little boy to call his father home from church. In the mean time she secured the doors of the house, and retired to her chamber.

The little boy was met on his way to the church by the husband of the woman that was now confined in the cellar. He demanded of the boy where he was going? The boy told him, to call his father from church, as his mother was ill. He stopped the boy, and took him back to the house. Knocking at the door, the woman being above stairs, looked out of the window, and asked what he wanted? He insisted upon being let into the house; but she refused. Upon which he threatened to kill the little boy. The poor distressed mother said it was better the innocent child should suffer than she and her babe within her. Accordingly the villain, with the barbarity that would disgrace a savage, took a large knife and instantly cut the boy's head off, and held it up to its much afflicted and unhappy mother. The murderer then was resolved to set his wife at liberty, and murder the distracted victim. He immediately got a ladder, and mounting the roof of the house, determined to go down the chimney. Upon which she went down stairs, and as the chimney was wide, saw him descending. In a moment she piled a considerable heap of straw (which was near at hand) upon the hearth, and set fire to it. This had the desired effect, he dropped very nigh suffocated with the smoke.

She was as well prepared to receive him as her miserable condition would admit of. She gave him some blows, as he lay upon the hearth, with a large stick she had; but observing him to revive a little, she took the knife from his hand, with which he had just before murdered her innocent child, and cut off his head. At this juncture, the husband returning from church, saw his beloved child lay on the ground a headless corpse, and his door locked. Raving and distracted he immediately, with assistance, broke open the door; where he found his wife almost dead, as she had swooned, and the villain upon the hearth without his head. It is impossible to form an idea of his situation. After proper means were used, the unhappy woman was so far recovered as to give some account of what had happened. Accordingly the cellar was searched, for the authoress of this bloody scene, who was immediately conducted to Boulogne prison, with the head and body of her lifeless husband. Justice in this kingdom is soon put into execution. I mean to be present at the execution of this wretch, and shall, in a future letter, give you an account of her trial, behaviour, &c."

(Kent. Gaz.)